Photographer Stephen Blakeney opens new exhibition One Place, Many Faces at Rosa Brook Hall

Storied Rosa Brook photographer Stephen Blakeney’s latest exhibition opens on Thursday at his treasured community’s local hall.

The veteran snapper will exhibit new works — mostly black-and-white portraits — as part of his One Place, Many Faces project.

Rosa Brook Hall will host the exhibition, which runs until December 6.

Blakeney told the Times capturing the spirit and personalities of his community was an ongoing passion.

“Rosa Brook remains unique in the ever-changing demographic of the shire,” he said.

“I wanted to celebrate this and utilise the facility of the community hall as a focal point.”

The hall itself, a hub for community gatherings for decades, also features in the exhibition itself.

“Previously, I have travelled to residents’ properties to photograph them, but I wanted to get the community together at one point, to interact and meet new neighbours, and the iconic Rosa Brook Hall was the perfect venue,” Blakeney said.

“I set up a mini studio inside the hall and invited members of the community to come along, meet their neighbours, join us for a picnic, and have their photo taken to commemorate the occasion.

“It was enthusiastically embraced by a large section of the community, and I am over the moon with the results.”

The photographic style of the exhibition also brought the sense of community to life, with an “old-time” feel to the images and the way Blakeney staged them.

The portraits were accompanied by discussions about the sense of time and place in Rosa Brook, with many of those pictured bringing items and even pets along to tell their personal stories.